All eyes in the sailing world are on Long Beach this week as skippers competing in “the grandest of all match races” take to waters outside Alamitos Bay for the 49th Congressional Cup.

Considered a stepping stone to the prestigious America’s Cup, the “Con Cup” (as it is affectionately known) will this year pit ten competitive sailors from seven countries against each other in head-to-head races over the course of five days.

Unlike America’s Cup where vessel design and fundraising are major factors in who wins, skippers and their teams for the Con Cup race using identical Catalina 37 boats provided by the hosting Long Beach Yacht Club. This ensures an even playing field and places more emphasis on teamwork, skill and strategy.

“It’s a lot of fun for us to come and do events like Con Cup where we get to race against great people in identical boats,” said Ed Baird, a former America’s and Congressional Cup winner who is again competing this year. “That is what this event is all about. It’s a very special event for the sailing world.”

Though the Congressional Cup is a world-class event, its entire existence is a local effort.

In addition to the 1000 Long Beach Yacht Club members who continue to support the annual race at their home club, there are 300 member volunteers who work tirelessly each year (and often in the years prior) to ensure everything goes smoothly, making the Con Cup the largest event of its kind in the world run exclusively by volunteers.

“It’s survived for so long because it’s a homespun event,” says Jo Murray, wife of David Murray, the 2013 Congressional Cup Chairman. “My mother was a boat hostess at the first Congressional Cup [in 1965] and our son is also a volunteer, so it’s definitely generational.”

Racing began Tuesday and, weather permitting, will continue all day through Friday with the winner being announced after a final race on Saturday. Competitors this year include Ian Williams, the number one ranked match-race skipper in the world; Taylor Canfield, who won his berth by being this year’s USA Grand Slam winner; and Baird, a champion sailor who continues to compete all over the world.

“Match racing is very healthy here and it has been for more than 49 years,” said Drew Satariano, Long Beach Yacht Club’s Staff Commodore. “But if you notice around the world, it comes and goes. There are big regattas and small regattas that come only for a couple of years…[but] the Congressional Cup continues to chug along into its 49th year.”

Public viewing of the Congressional Cup is available off of the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, where the boats will get within feet of the structure. Music, food and a live announcer will be present for spectators. For more information, visit thecongressionalcup.com

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